마진
A margin is the extra space or the difference between what you spend and what you earn.
Explanation at your level:
A margin is the empty space on the side of a paper. When you write in a notebook, you see the white space on the left. That is the margin. It helps your writing look neat. In business, it is the extra money you make. If you sell a cookie for more than it cost to make, you have a margin.
You can use the word margin to talk about space or money. For example, 'Please write your name in the margin.' It also means the difference between the cost and the price. A company wants a high profit margin to be successful. It is a very useful word in school and work.
In English, margin refers to the boundary or edge of something. Beyond the physical space on a page, it is used in economics to describe the difference between production costs and sales. If your profit margin is high, your business is doing well. We also use it to describe 'room to move' or 'extra time' in a schedule.
The term margin is versatile. It describes the blank space on a document, but also functions as a critical business metric representing the gap between costs and revenue. Furthermore, we use it figuratively to discuss 'margins of error' in statistics or 'winning by a wide margin' in competitive sports. Understanding this word helps you navigate both academic and professional discussions.
Beyond its literal definition as a border or edge, margin is a sophisticated term in finance and social studies. In finance, it refers to the collateral deposited by an investor with a broker. In social contexts, 'living on the margins' describes individuals who are excluded from the mainstream. Mastering this word allows you to discuss complex topics like economic efficiency and social inequality with precision.
The etymology of margin from the Latin margo highlights its fundamental nature as a boundary. In advanced discourse, it appears in concepts like 'marginal utility' in economics, which examines the value of an additional unit of consumption. It also appears in literary analysis when discussing the 'margins of a text'—the space where commentary and interpretation occur. It is a word that bridges the gap between concrete physical space and abstract intellectual or financial concepts.
30秒词汇
- Margin means edge or space.
- It is used in business for profit.
- It can mean a buffer.
- It is a countable noun.
Hey there! Let's talk about the word margin. Think of it as a boundary or a buffer.
In business, it is all about profit. If you buy a lemonade for $1 and sell it for $2, that $1 difference is your profit margin. It's the cushion that keeps a business healthy.
In writing, it is that empty white space on the side of your paper. It gives your eyes a place to rest and keeps your words organized. Without margins, a page would look like a giant, messy block of text!
Finally, we use it for flexibility. If you have a 'margin of error,' it means you have a little bit of room to make a mistake without failing completely. It is a very handy concept in both math and life.
The word margin has a cool history. It comes from the Latin word margo, which simply means 'edge' or 'border.'
It entered Middle English through Old French, keeping its original meaning of a boundary. Over time, it started being used for the physical edges of a book page, which makes total sense since that is the physical 'border' of the text.
By the 17th century, people started using it metaphorically. They realized that if you have an edge, you have space beyond it. This led to the financial usage we know today. It is fascinating how a word for a physical edge became a word for financial success and safety buffers!
You will hear margin used in many different settings. In professional meetings, you will often hear people talk about profit margins. This is a very common business term.
In casual conversation, you might hear someone say, 'I have a small margin of time before my bus arrives.' This means they have a little bit of extra time.
Common collocations include wide margin (usually used in sports or voting) and thin margin. If a politician wins by a 'wide margin,' they won by a lot of votes. If they win by a 'thin margin,' it was a very close race.
Here are some ways we use margin in expressions:
- Margin of error: The amount of allowed variation. Example: 'The poll has a 3% margin of error.'
- On the margins: Being on the edge of a group or society. Example: 'He felt he was living on the margins of the community.'
- Profit margin: The percentage of revenue that exceeds costs. Example: 'Our profit margin is too low this year.'
- Wide margin: Winning by a large amount. Example: 'She won the race by a wide margin.'
- Safety margin: Extra space or time kept for safety. Example: 'Always keep a safety margin when driving in the rain.'
The word margin is a count noun. You can say 'one margin' or 'two margins.' It is usually preceded by an article like 'the' or 'a.'
Pronunciation is straightforward: MAR-jin. The stress is on the first syllable. It rhymes with words like origin or virgin.
Grammatically, it often acts as the subject or object of a sentence. You can 'increase your margin' (object) or 'the margin is large' (subject). It is a very stable, easy-to-use noun!
Fun Fact
It evolved from a physical edge to a financial concept.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'r' sound, soft 'g'.
Rhotic 'r', clear 'j' sound.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing 'g' as hard 'g'.
- Dropping the 'n'.
- Stressing the second syllable.
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
高级
Grammar to Know
Countable Nouns
a margin
Articles
the margin
Adjective-Noun
wide margin
Examples by Level
Write your name in the margin.
Write name in the side space
Imperative sentence
The margin is white.
The edge space is white
Simple subject-verb
I have a big margin.
I have extra space
Basic noun usage
The margin is small.
The edge space is narrow
Adjective usage
Look at the margin.
See the side space
Imperative
Keep a clean margin.
Make the edge neat
Imperative
The margin is empty.
The edge space has nothing
Simple sentence
Use the margin.
Write in the side space
Imperative
The profit margin is good.
Please do not write in the margin.
He won by a wide margin.
The margin of the page is wide.
We need a bigger margin.
The margin is important for notes.
Keep the margin neat.
The margin is on the left.
The company has a thin profit margin.
They won the election by a significant margin.
I left a margin of error in my schedule.
The margin of the document was too narrow.
We need to improve our profit margins.
He lives on the margins of society.
The margin of victory was only one point.
Add some notes in the margin.
The firm's gross margin increased this quarter.
There is very little margin for error in this project.
She won by a margin of ten percent.
The text was scribbled in the margins of the book.
We must protect our profit margins.
The margin of safety is quite high.
He was pushed to the margins of the political party.
The margin between success and failure is slim.
The marginal utility of this product is decreasing.
They operate on the margins of the law.
The margin of error in the scientific study was negligible.
He annotated the margins with insightful commentary.
The company is trying to expand its operating margins.
The margin of influence is expanding.
She navigated the margins of the conversation.
The margin of difference is statistically significant.
The marginalization of minority groups remains a key issue.
He explored the margins of human experience in his novel.
The financial margin was tightened by the new regulations.
The margin of interpretation in this law is vast.
His work exists on the margins of conventional art.
The margin of error was accounted for in the model.
She questioned the margins of their authority.
The margin between the two theories is subtle.
常见搭配
Idioms & Expressions
"margin of error"
Allowed deviation
The survey has a margin of error.
neutral"on the margins"
Excluded or on the edge
He stays on the margins.
neutral"wide margin"
Large difference
She won by a wide margin.
neutral"thin margin"
Small difference
The profit margin is thin.
neutral"safety margin"
Extra space for safety
Add a safety margin.
neutralEasily Confused
Both mean edge.
Border is for land/countries.
The border of the map.
Both mean boundary.
Edge is general.
The edge of the cliff.
Both mean boundary.
Limit is a restriction.
The speed limit.
Both mean outer area.
Fringe is for groups.
The fringe of society.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + won + by + a + margin
He won by a wide margin.
The + margin + is + adjective
The margin is small.
Keep + a + margin + for + noun
Keep a margin for error.
There + is + a + margin
There is a margin on the page.
Increase + the + margin
We must increase the margin.
词族
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
相关
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
常见错误
Margin is for pages or money.
Margin is the noun.
Margin is usually for paper or finance.
No 'e' at the end.
Margin of time is okay, but limited.
Tips
Memory Palace
Visualize a giant book.
Business Context
Use it for profit.
Academic Use
Use it for paper edges.
Countable
Always use 'a' or 'the'.
Soft G
Like 'gin'.
Not a border
Don't use for countries.
Latin origin
From 'margo'.
Context
Read business news.
Wide margin
For victories.
Plural
Margins.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
MAR-GIN: My ARchive has a GINormous space.
Visual Association
A notebook with a big white space on the side.
Word Web
挑战
Find the margin on your next book.
词源
Latin
Original meaning: Edge or border
文化背景
None.
Common in business and academic settings.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- profit margin
- operating margin
- improve margins
at school
- write in the margin
- wide margin
- neat margin
politics
- won by a margin
- close margin
- wide margin
statistics
- margin of error
- small margin
- calculate margin
Conversation Starters
"What is your profit margin?"
"Did you win by a wide margin?"
"Why is the margin so small?"
"Can you write in the margin?"
"Is there a margin of error?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you had a narrow margin of success.
Describe a business idea and its margin.
How do you keep your notes organized in the margins?
Why is a margin of error important in science?
常见问题
8 个问题No, it is also space on a page.
No, use border.
The allowed amount of mistake.
Yes, margins.
MAR-jin.
Sales minus costs.
Yes, it means on the edge.
Rarely, usually a noun.
自我测试
Write your name in the ___.
Margin is the correct space for notes.
What is a profit margin?
Profit margin is financial.
A margin is always a physical space.
It can be financial or abstract.
Word
意思
Matches based on size.
Standard sentence structure.
得分： /5
Summary
A margin is the space at the edge or the gap between costs and profits.
- Margin means edge or space.
- It is used in business for profit.
- It can mean a buffer.
- It is a countable noun.
Memory Palace
Visualize a giant book.
Business Context
Use it for profit.
Academic Use
Use it for paper edges.
Countable
Always use 'a' or 'the'.
例句
회사는 높은 마진을 남겼습니다.
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